Sketch of Judge Francis Yosti, St. Charles County, Missouri >From "A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan, Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876. ********************************************************************** The father of Judge Francis Yosti, of St. Charles, whose name was Emelieu Yosti, was a native of Italy. He came to St. Louis with some Spanish troops sometime during the latter part of the eighteenth century, and engaged in the mercantile business. He possessed only a limited capital, but by perseverance and tact he accumulated a fortune. He married Theotes Duran, a daughter of one of the old French families of St. Louis, by whom he had six children. The first court in the Territory of Missouri, under the American government, was held in his house; and at one of its sessions a murderer named John Long was con- victed and sentenced to death. Mr. Yosti died in 1812, and his wife in 1824. Francis Yosti, the eldest child, was born in St. Louis on August 7, 1798. He settled in St. Charles in 1829, and married Emily Adeline Morrison. He subsequently engaged in the mercantile business with a Mr. Morrison, at Franklin, in Howard County, where they remained one year. They then loaded their goods into wagons, and started across the plains to Santa Fe, New Mexico. They made the trip in ninety days, and immediately opened their goods and went into business. The follow- ing year Mr. Yosti returned to Missouri, but went back to Santa Fe the next spring. During that summer they disposed of their stock of goods, and Mr. Yosti, in company with nine others, started back to Missouri. They took the southern route down the Arkansas river, in order to avoid the cold of a northern latitude, and when near the confluence of the Mexquite and Canadian rivers, they were attacked by about 150 Indians. Two of the party and all their horses were killed, but the bodies of the latter were piled in a circle and afforded a safe breast-work, behind which the survivors gallantly withstood the assaults of the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. They killed and wounded a large number of their assailants, and when night came on they succeeded in making their escape, but were compelled to abandon all their property, and travel with empty guns, as they had expended all their ammunition in their defence. They traveled seventeen days on foot, through the swamps, and over hills and rocks, with nothing to eat but roots, bark and sumac buds. Finally, when nearly exhausted and almost famished, they heard firing on the opposite side of the Arkansas river, which they had followed into the Indian Territory. They rightly conjectured that they were in the midst of friendly Indians, and hastily construct- ing a raft, they crossed the river and made their presence known. The Indians received them in the most friendly manner, and kindly cared for them several days, until their strength was sufficiently restored to resume their journey, when they furnished them with ponies and accom- panied them to Fort Gibson, where they embarked on a boat for St. Louis. Mr. Yosti located in St. Charles in 1834, and again engaged in the mercantile business. He was also interested in the milling business with George Collier. In 1857 he began to deal in grain, in company with Capt. John Orrick, and continued in that business for sixteen years. He then retired to private life, and now enjoys the fruits of his labors in his elegant home, surrounded by his cultivated and in- tellegent family. The names of his children were: Virginia, James M., Emily Jane, William, Euphrasia and Mary. Emily Jane and William are twins. Virginia died in childhood, and James M. died at the age of twenty five years. Emily Jane married John K. Lintz, and Mary married John A. Keller. Mr. Yosti was Judge of the County Court during six years of his life. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Harrell ====================================================================